Communication system, communication apparatus, computer-readable storage medium having stored therein communication program, and communication method

ABSTRACT

An example system includes: a search communication apparatus searching for another communication apparatus; and search subject communication apparatuses searched for by the search communication apparatus. The search communication apparatus includes a search request transmission section transmitting a search request signal. The search subject communication apparatuses each includes: a search request reception section receiving the search request signal transmitted from the search communication apparatus; a search response transmission section transmitting a search response signal as response to the search request signal received by the search request reception section, to the search communication apparatus; and a search response monitoring section monitoring the search response signal transmitted from another search subject communication apparatus to the search communication apparatus. The search response transmission section transmits, as proxy response signal, to the search communication apparatus, the search response signal transmitted from the other search subject communication apparatus and monitored by the search response monitoring section.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-001422, filed onJan. 6, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The exemplary embodiments relate to a communication system, acommunication apparatus, a computer-readable storage medium havingstored therein a communication program, and a communication method.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Conventionally, in a communication system, a communication apparatusperforming wireless communication may execute scanning for searching fora connection destination. For example, in such a communication system,when a communication apparatus searches for (scans) other communicationapparatuses around the communication apparatus, the communicationapparatus (hereinafter, a communication apparatus that searches forother communication apparatuses is referred to as a search communicationapparatus) transmits a search request signal (probe request) to othercommunication apparatuses (hereinafter, a communication apparatus thatis searched for is referred to as a search subject communicationapparatus) by broadcast. Then, a search subject communication apparatusthat has received the search request signal transmits a search responsesignal (probe response) indicating the presence of the search subjectcommunication apparatus, as a response to the search request signal, tothe search communication apparatus which has transmitted the searchrequest signal. Then, the search communication apparatus receives thesearch response signal, thereby recognizing the presence of the searchsubject communication apparatus.

However, in such a communication system as described above, in order tofind a large number of other communication apparatuses, the searchcommunication apparatus is to sequentially receive search responsesignals respectively transmitted from the large number of othercommunication apparatuses, and therefore, it takes long time for thesearching. That is, the search communication apparatus cannot search fora large number of other communication apparatuses in a short period.Therefore, the efficiency of the searching cannot be increased.

Therefore, a feature of the exemplary embodiments provides acommunication system, a communication apparatus, a computer-readablestorage medium having stored therein a communication program, and acommunication method that have increased efficiency of searching when acommunication apparatus searches for another communication apparatus.

The exemplary embodiments have the following aspects in order to solvethe above problem.

A communication system according to one aspect of the exemplaryembodiments includes: a search communication apparatus which searchesfor another communication apparatus; and a plurality of search subjectcommunication apparatuses which are searched for by the searchcommunication apparatus. The search communication apparatus comprises asearch request transmission section configured to transmit a searchrequest signal. The search subject communication apparatuses eachcomprises: a search request reception section configured to receive thesearch request signal transmitted from the search communicationapparatus; a search response transmission section configured to transmita search response signal which is a response to the search requestsignal received by the search request reception section, to the searchcommunication apparatus; and a search response monitoring sectionconfigured to monitor the search response signal transmitted fromanother search subject communication apparatus to the searchcommunication apparatus. The search communication apparatus furthercomprises a search response reception section configured to receive thesearch response signal transmitted from the search subject communicationapparatus. The search response transmission section transmits, as aproxy response signal, to the search communication apparatus, the searchresponse signal monitored by the search response monitoring section,which has been transmitted from the other search subject communicationapparatus. The search response reception section receives the proxyresponse signal in addition to the search response signal.

According to the above aspect, the search subject communicationapparatus monitors search response signals transmitted from other searchsubject communication apparatuses to the search communication apparatus,and transmits the monitored search response signals as a proxy responsesignal, to the search communication apparatus. Therefore, the searchcommunication apparatus can recognize the presences of a plurality ofsearch subject communication apparatuses by receiving a proxy responsesignal transmitted from one search subject communication apparatus.Thus, the efficiency of searching is increased.

In another aspect, the proxy response signal may be one signal obtainedby integrating the search response signal transmitted from the searchsubject communication apparatus to the search communication apparatus,and the search response signal monitored by the search responsemonitoring section, which has been transmitted from the other searchsubject communication apparatus.

According to the above aspect, the proxy response signal is transmittedincluding several signals integrated. Therefore, the searchcommunication apparatus can recognize the presences of a plurality ofsearch subject communication apparatuses by only receiving the one proxyresponse signal. That is, the search communication apparatus canrecognize the presences of a plurality of search subject communicationapparatuses in a shorter reception time than the total reception timefor sequentially receiving search response signals transmitted from thesearch subject communication apparatuses. Therefore, the searchcommunication apparatus can recognize the presences of a plurality ofsearch subject communication apparatuses in a shorter period, and thus,the efficiency of searching is increased.

In another aspect, the search response monitoring section may monitorthe proxy response signal transmitted from another search subjectcommunication apparatus. In this case, when the search response signaltransmitted from the search subject communication apparatus is includedin the proxy response signal monitored by the search response monitoringsection of the search subject communication apparatus, the searchresponse transmission section of the search subject communicationapparatus does not transmit the search response signal.

According to the above aspect, if a search response signal of a searchsubject communication apparatus is included in a proxy response signaltransmitted from another search subject communication apparatus, thesearch subject communication apparatus does not transmit a searchresponse signal. Therefore, the search communication apparatus can avoidredundantly receiving the same search response signals. Thus, theefficiency of searching is increased.

In another aspect, the search subject communication apparatuses may eachfurther comprise a priority setting section configured to set a priorityof transmission of the search response signal. The priority settingsection may set the priority as follows. If the search subjectcommunication apparatus has transmitted the search response signal tothe search communication apparatus at least one time, the prioritysetting section sets the priority to be lower than if the search subjectcommunication apparatus has not transmitted the search response signal.In this case, the search response transmission sections of the searchsubject communication apparatuses transmit the search response signalsin the order corresponding to the priorities that have been set.

According to the above aspect, the priority of transmission of a searchresponse signal of a search subject communication apparatus that hastransmitted a search response signal at least one time is set to belower than the priority of a search subject communication apparatus thathas not transmitted a search response signal. Therefore, a searchsubject communication apparatus that has not yet been recognized by thesearch communication apparatus preferentially transmits a searchresponse signal in preference to other search subject communicationapparatuses. Thus, the efficiency of searching by the searchcommunication apparatus is increased.

In another aspect, the search subject communication apparatuses may eachfurther comprise a priority setting section configured to set a priorityof transmission of the search response signal. The priority settingsection may set the priority as follows. The more the number of othersearch subject communication apparatuses that have transmitted thesearch response signals monitored by the search response monitoringsection and included in the proxy response signal is, the higher thepriority setting section sets the priority to be. In this case, thesearch response transmission sections of the search subjectcommunication apparatuses transmit the search response signals in theorder corresponding to the priorities that have been set.

According to the above aspect, the more the number of other searchsubject communication apparatuses that have transmitted search responsesignals included in a proxy response signal to be transmitted by asearch subject communication apparatus is (that is, the more the numberof other search subject communication apparatuses whose search responsesignals are to be transmitted by a search subject communicationapparatus in place of the other search subject communication apparatusesis), the more preferentially a search response signal (the proxyresponse signal) of the search subject communication apparatus istransmitted. Therefore, the search communication apparatus can recognizethe presences of a large number of search subject communicationapparatuses in a short period, and thus, the efficiency of searching isincreased.

In another aspect, the search subject communication apparatuses may eachfurther comprise: a proxy registration section and a proxy deletionsection. The proxy registration section registers, in a storage sectionof the search subject communication apparatus, information about theother search subject communication apparatus that has transmitted thesearch response signal monitored by the search response monitoringsection. The proxy deletion section deletes the information about theother search subject communication apparatus which has been registeredby the proxy registration section, from the storage section. In thiscase, the search response transmission section transmits the proxyresponse signal, based on the information about the other search subjectcommunication apparatus registered in the storage section.

According to the above aspect, a search subject communication apparatuscan appropriately manage pieces of information about other searchsubject communication apparatuses that have transmitted search responsesignals monitored by the search subject communication apparatus, andtransmit a proxy response signal, based on the currently stored piecesof information about the other search subject communication apparatuses.

In another aspect, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the proxyregistration section registered the information about the other searchsubject communication apparatus in the storage section, the proxydeletion section may delete the information about the other searchsubject communication apparatus from the storage section.

According to the above aspect, information about another search subjectcommunication apparatus that has transmitted a search response signalmonitored by the search subject communication apparatus is deleted fromthe storage section when a predetermined time has elapsed. Therefore,while transmitting a proxy response signal based on the currently storedpieces of information about other search subject communicationapparatuses, the search subject communication apparatus can preventcumulative increase in the number of proxy targets included in the proxyresponse signal (the number of search response signals of other searchsubject communication apparatuses for which proxy response isperformed).

In another aspect, when the search response transmission section hastransmitted, a predetermined number of times, as the proxy responsesignal, the search response signal monitored by the search responsemonitoring section, the proxy deletion section may delete theinformation about the other search subject communication apparatus thathas transmitted the search response signal, from the storage section.

According to the above aspect, if a monitored search response signal hasbeen transmitted as a proxy response signal a predetermined number oftimes, information about a search subject communication apparatus thathas transmitted the monitored search response signal is deleted from thestorage section. Therefore, while transmitting a proxy response signalbased on the currently stored pieces of information about other searchsubject communication apparatuses, the search subject communicationapparatus can avoid continuously transmitting, more than a predeterminednumber of times, a search response signal of another search subjectcommunication apparatus that has been already transmitted as a proxyresponse signal the predetermined number of times.

In another aspect, when the search request reception section hasreceived the search request signal, the search response monitoringsection may start to monitor the search response signal transmitted fromthe other search subject communication apparatus.

According to the above aspect, when a search subject communicationapparatus has recognized that the search communication apparatus issearching, the search subject communication apparatus starts to monitorsearch response signals transmitted from other search subjectcommunication apparatuses. Therefore, the search subject communicationapparatus can start the monitoring at an appropriate timing withoutunnecessary monitoring. As used herein, starting the monitoring meansstarting to receive a signal from a search subject communicationapparatus and determine whether or not to transmit the signal as a proxyresponse signal.

In the above, the exemplary embodiments are described using acommunication system as an example. However, the exemplary embodimentsmay be applied to a communication apparatus, a computer-readable storagemedium having stored therein a communication program, or a communicationmethod.

According to the exemplary embodiments, it is possible to provide acommunication system and the like that have increased efficiency ofsearching when a communication apparatus searches for anothercommunication apparatus.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of theexemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a non-limiting example of theconfiguration of a game apparatus 10;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a non-limiting example ofwireless communication performed in a communication system including aplurality of the game apparatuses 10;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a non-limiting example ofwireless communication performed in the communication system includingthe plurality of game apparatuses 10;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a non-limiting example ofwireless communication performed in the communication system includingthe plurality of game apparatuses 10;

FIG. 5 shows a non-limiting example of a memory map of a main memory 13;

FIG. 6 shows a non-limiting example of a proxy target management table;

FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C show non-limiting examples of frames;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a non-limiting example of atransmission/reception process of a search response signal and a proxyresponse signal; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another non-limiting example of atransmission/reception process of a search response signal and a proxyresponse signal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to thedrawings. In the present embodiment, a communication system will bedescribed as an example, but the exemplary embodiments are not limitedthereto. A communication apparatus that realizes the function of such acommunication system, a communication method performed in such acommunication system, or a computer-readable storage medium havingstored therein a communication program to be executed in such acommunication system, may be used.

Configuration of Hardware of Game Apparatus

The communication system of the present embodiment is composed of aplurality of communication apparatuses capable of performing wirelesscommunication. In the present embodiment, a game apparatus 10 ofhand-held type having a wireless communication function is used as anexample of the communication apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a non-limiting example of theconfiguration of the game apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the gameapparatus 10 includes a processor 11, a storage apparatus 12, a mainmemory 13, and a wireless communication module 14.

The storage apparatus 12 has stored therein a computer program that isexecuted by the processor 11. The storage apparatus 12 is, typically, ahard disk or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The main memory 13 temporarilystores a computer program or various data, and also functions as a workarea of the processor 11. It is noted that a computer program or datastored in an external storage apparatus may be provided via acommunication line or the like to the main memory 13 or the storageapparatus 12, so that the main memory 13 or the storage apparatus 12stores it.

In addition, the main memory 13 stores a transmission frame or the likein which data to be transmitted to another game apparatus 10 or the likeis written. The transmission frame stored in the main memory 13 isoutputted to the wireless communication module 14, in accordance with aninstruction from the processor 11, and is transmitted via the wirelesscommunication module 14 to another game apparatus 10 or the like. Inaddition, a reception frame in which data received via the wirelesscommunication module 14 from another game apparatus 10 or the like iswritten is processed by the processor 11, and is stored in the mainmemory 13 as appropriate. In addition, the storage apparatus 12 of thegame apparatus 10 has stored therein apparatus information (apparatusID) which is identification information about the game apparatus 10, ina nonvolatile manner. The apparatus ID is written as a transmissionsource ID in the transmission frame when the transmission frame istransmitted to another game apparatus 10 or the like.

The wireless communication module 14 has a function of establishingconnection to a wireless LAN, thereby performing wireless communicationwith other game apparatuses 10 of the same type, or transmitting data toor receiving data from other apparatuses via the Internet. The wirelesscommunication module 14 outputs the reception frame that has beenreceived, to the processor 11. In addition, the wireless communicationmodule 14 transmits the transmission frame or the like to another gameapparatus 10 or the like, as instructed by the processor 11. It is notedthat the wireless communication module 14 performs wirelesscommunication by using a channel (frequency band) designated inaccordance with the ambient communication condition by the processor 11.

It is noted that the above-described configuration of hardware is merelyan example. The exemplary embodiments are applicable to anycommunication apparatus, or any communication system including anycommunication apparatuses.

Summary of Communication System

First, the summary of a communication system of the present embodimentwill be described. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a non-limitingexample of wireless communication performed in the communication systemincluding a plurality of the game apparatuses 10 (game apparatuses X andA to I).

As shown in FIG. 2, in the communication enabled area in which wirelesscommunication with the game apparatus X can be performed, the other gameapparatuses A to I are present. When the game apparatus X searches for agame apparatus 10 that the game apparatus X can communicate with aroundthe game apparatus X, the game apparatus X transmits a transmissionframe (search request signal) indicating the presence of the gameapparatus X and the content of the search request, by broadcast. Thatis, in the present embodiment, the game apparatus X functions as asearch communication apparatus. Here, a channel used for wirelesscommunication by the game apparatus 10 (use channel) is selected frompredetermined several channels (for example, 1Ch, 2Ch, and 3Ch) set inthe communication system, in accordance with the ambient communicationcondition (for example, radio wave usage rate of the channel).Hereinafter, it will be assumed that a channel used by the gameapparatus X for transmitting a search request signal is 2Ch, and thatchannels used by the game apparatuses A to I (search subjectcommunication apparatuses in the present embodiment) are also 2Ch. It isnoted that, in the following description, a channel (2Ch) used by a gameapparatus for transmitting a search request signal for searching foranother game apparatus is referred to as a search channel.

Here, in order to recognize the presence of another game apparatus 10,the game apparatus X is to receive a search response signal which is aresponse to a search request signal that the game apparatus X hastransmitted. That is, in order to recognize the presences of all thegame apparatuses A to I, the game apparatus X is to receive all thesearch response signals sequentially transmitted from the gameapparatuses A to I. Therefore, the more the number of the gameapparatuses 10 to be searched for is (the more the number of searchsubject communication apparatuses is), the longer the time taken for thegame apparatus X to receive search response signals from all the gameapparatuses 10 is. Meanwhile, the game apparatus X can spend only ashort time on searching, owing to another transmission process, forexample. In such a case, it is preferable that the game apparatus X cansearch for a large number of game apparatuses in a short time (that is,it is preferable that the efficiency of searching is increased).Therefore, in the communication system of the present embodiment, onesearch subject communication apparatus transmits search response signalsof other search subject communication apparatuses in place of the othersearch subject communication apparatuses, thereby increasing theefficiency of the searching. Hereinafter, the feature of thecommunication system of the present embodiment will be described withreference to the drawings.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the game apparatus X transmits the firstsearch request signal to the game apparatuses A to I. The gameapparatuses A to I receive the search request signal from the gameapparatus X. Then, each of the game apparatuses A to I transmits asearch response signal to the game apparatus X, or when the gameapparatus does not transmit a search response signal, monitors signalsaround the game apparatus. Here, it will be assumed that the gameapparatuses A, C, D, F, G, and I have received the first search requestsignal and the game apparatuses B, E, and H have not normally receivedthe search request signal. Here, since the game apparatuses A, C, D, F,G, and I transmit the search response signals to the same game apparatus(game apparatus X), the order of the transmission of the search responsesignals is determined based on priorities described later, such that theplurality of search response signals will not collide with each other.If some game apparatuses have the same priories, back-off times (waitingtimes for transmission) are randomly determined, so that the gameapparatuses transmit search response signals in order of the waitingtimes, starting from the shortest one. For example, if the order of thewaiting times of the game apparatuses are, starting from the shortestone, A, C, D, F, G, and then I, first, the game apparatus A transmits asearch response signal. At this time, each of the other game apparatusesB to I monitors signals around itself. For example, the game apparatusesB, C, I, and H monitor the search response signal transmitted from thegame apparatus A. Next, the game apparatus C transmits a search responsesignal. At this time, each of the other game apparatuses A, B, and D toI monitors signals around itself. For example, the game apparatuses A,B, and D monitor the search response signal transmitted from the gameapparatus C. Thus, the game apparatuses A to I that have received thesearch request signal sequentially transmit search response signalsbased on the waiting times for transmission, or when each of them doesnot transmit a search response signal, the game apparatus monitorssearch response signals around the game apparatus (search responsesignals in the monitoring area), thereby recognizing the presences ofother game apparatuses around the game apparatus.

The game apparatuses B, E, and H do not transmit search response signalsbecause they have not normally received the search request signal fromthe game apparatus X. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the gameapparatuses A, C, D, F, G, and I have transmitted search responsesignals, the game apparatus B has monitored the search response signalstransmitted from the game apparatuses A, C, and D which are present inthe monitoring area of the game apparatus B, the game apparatus E hasmonitored the search response signals transmitted from the gameapparatuses D and F which are present in the monitoring area of the gameapparatus E, and the game apparatus H has monitored the search responsesignals transmitted from the game apparatuses A, I, G, and F which arepresent in the monitoring area of the game apparatus H.

It is noted that the search response signals transmitted from the gameapparatuses A, C, D, F, G, and I may not received by the game apparatusX. For example, the game apparatus X can spend only a short time on thesearching, and therefore, a reception enabled period in which the gameapparatus X can receive a search response signal as a response to asearch request signal that the game apparatus X has transmitted might beshort. Specifically, after the reception enabled period has elapsed, asearch channel might be occupied by another communication, or the searchchannel might be switched to different channel, and as a result, asearch communication apparatus (game apparatus X) might be unable toreceive the search response signal. Even in such a case, if another gameapparatus 10 can monitor the search response signal that the gameapparatus X has not received, when the other game apparatus 10 has nextreceived the search request signal, the other game apparatus 10transmits a proxy response signal described later, thereby allowing thegame apparatus X to receive the search response signal that the gameapparatus X has not received.

Next, the game apparatus X transmits the second search request signalsto the game apparatuses A to I. The game apparatuses A to I receive thesecond search request signal. Here, the priorities of the gameapparatuses A, C, D, F, G, and I which have transmitted the searchresponse signals as responses to the first search request signaltransmitted from the game apparatus X are set to be lower than areference value, and therefore, the priorities of the game apparatusesB, E, and H become relatively high. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, each ofthe game apparatuses B, E, and H which have monitored the searchresponse signals transmitted from the other game apparatuses 10transmits the monitored search response signals and its own searchresponse signal, as a proxy response signal, to the game apparatus X.Specifically, for example, the game apparatus B transmits its own searchresponse signal and the search response signals transmitted from thegame apparatuses A, C, and D, as a series of proxy response signals.Therefore, it is not necessary to provide back-off times (waiting timesfor transmission) for adjusting the transmission such that the searchresponse signals sequentially transmitted from the game apparatuses A,B, C, and D will not collide with each other, and as a result, the timetaken for the transmission of a search response signal becomes short.Therefore, by receiving the proxy response signals from the gameapparatus B, the game apparatus X can recognize the presences of thegame apparatuses A, B, C, and D in a short time, thus increasing theefficiency of searching. In addition, by transmitting a plurality ofsearch response signals as proxy response signals as described above,the rate that search response signals transmitted from the gameapparatuses A to I are normally received by the game apparatus X(reaching rate) increases. Therefore, it is not necessary for the gameapparatuses A to I to retransmit the search response signals in order tocause the search response signals to reach the game apparatus X, andoccurrence of fruitless transmission can be prevented. As a result, thetime taken for the game apparatus X to perform searching is furtherreduced.

It is noted that the above proxy response signals may be one signalincluding, in an integrated manner, a search response signal of a gameapparatus and search response signals that the game apparatus hasmonitored. Specifically, the proxy response signal may be a signalobtained by integrating the body portions of these search responsesignals and providing a common header portion. In this case, the amountof entire information to be transmitted decreases. Therefore, the timetaken for transmission and reception is further reduced, and theefficiency of searching is further increased. Hereinafter, it will beassumed that the proxy response signal is one signal including, in anintegrated manner, a search response signal of a game apparatus andsearch response signals that the game apparatus has monitored.

As shown in FIG. 4, the game apparatuses A, C, D, F, G, and I do nottransmit search response signals with respect to the second searchrequest signal that they have received. The reason is as follows. Thegame apparatuses A, C, D, F, G, and I have already transmitted searchresponse signals with respect to the first search request signal (seeFIG. 3). Therefore, the priorities of transmission of search responsesignals of the game apparatuses A, C, D, F, G, and I are set to be lowerthan those of the other game apparatuses that have not transmittedsearch response signals with respect to the first search request signal(game apparatuses B, E, and H, or a game apparatus 10 that has newlyappeared in the communication enabled area of the game apparatus X).Then, the game apparatuses A, C, D, F, G, and I having such lowpriorities of transmission monitor signals around the game apparatusesA, C, D, F, G, and I before transmitting search response signals. Here,a proxy response signal as well as search response signals is monitored.Therefore, for example, the game apparatus A monitors a proxy responsesignal transmitted by the game apparatus B, and confirms that the searchresponse signal that the game apparatus A has already transmitted isincluded in the proxy response signal. In this case, the game apparatusA can allow the game apparatus X to recognize the presence of the gameapparatus A by the proxy response signal from the game apparatus B beingreceived by the game apparatus X, and therefore, the game apparatus Adoes not transmit a search response signal. Thus, search responsesignals can be prevented from being redundantly transmitted from thesame game apparatus in a short time in which the game apparatus X canreceive search response signals, whereby the efficiency of searching isincreased. On the other hand, as a result of the game apparatus Amonitoring the proxy response signal from the game apparatus B, if thesearch response signal of the game apparatus A is not included in theproxy response signal, proxy response is not performed for the gameapparatus A, and therefore, the game apparatus A transmits a searchresponse signal at its transmission timing based on the set priority.Alternatively, as a result of the game apparatus A monitoring the proxyresponse signal from the game apparatus B, if the search response signalof the game apparatus A is included in the proxy response signal, thepriority of the game apparatus A may be further lowered instead of nottransmitting a search response signal.

It is noted that also the proxy response signals from the gameapparatuses B, E, and H are transmitted in the order corresponding topriorities. The more the number of game apparatuses that havetransmitted search response signals included in a proxy response signalis, the higher the priority of transmission of the proxy response signalis set to be. Specifically, the game apparatus B transmits three searchresponse signals of the game apparatuses A, C, and D in place of them,the game apparatus E transmits two search response signals of the gameapparatuses F and D in place of them, and the game apparatus H transmitsfour search response signals of the game apparatuses A, F, G, and I inplace of them. Therefore, the order of the priorities is, starting fromthe highest one, the game apparatus H, the game apparatus B, and thenthe game apparatus E. Therefore, the proxy response signals aretransmitted in the order of game apparatus H, B, and then E. As aresult, even if the period in which the game apparatus X can receive asearch response signal has ended in a short period, the game apparatus Xcan receive search response signals of as many communication apparatusesas possible in this short period, whereby the efficiency of searching isincreased.

In addition, each of the game apparatuses A to I clears search responsesignals that the game apparatus has monitored, in accordance with apredetermined condition. For example, each of the game apparatuses A toI may clear the monitored search response signals if the game apparatushas performed proxy response a predetermined number of times (that is,the game apparatus has transmitted a proxy response signal including themonitored search response signals a predetermined number of times), mayclear them if a predetermined period has elapsed, or may clear them ifthe radio wave reception intensity has weakened in the monitoring.

Memory Map

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, various programs and various pieces ofdata to be stored in the main memory 13 (i.e., the memory map) will bedescribed. As shown in FIG. 5, the main memory 13 includes: a programstorage area 13 a in which a program loaded from the storage apparatus12, a program acquired via communication lines from an external storageapparatus, or the like is to be stored; and a data storage area 13 b inwhich temporary data generated in a game process or a communicationprocess is to be stored.

A wireless communication program P1, a game program P2, and the like areto be stored in the program storage area 13 a. The wirelesscommunication program P1 is a program defining the whole wirelesscommunication process. If execution of the wireless communicationprogram P1 is started, the wireless communication process is started.The game program P2 is a program defining the whole game processexecuted by the game apparatus 10.

The data storage area 13 b includes a transmission frame buffer area D1and a reception frame buffer area D2. Apparatus information D3, usechannel information D4, search information D5, priority information D6,network information D7, a proxy target management table D8, and the likeare to be stored in the data storage area 13 b.

A search request frame D1 a, a search response frame D1 b, a proxyresponse frame D1 c, and the like are to be stored in the transmissionframe buffer area D1. When the game apparatus 10 transmits data toanother game apparatus 10, a transmission frame prepared in thetransmission frame buffer area D1 is used. The reception frame bufferarea D2 is a buffer area for, when the transmission frame transmittedfrom another game apparatus 10 has been received, temporarily storingthe transmission frame.

The apparatus information D3 is identification information (IDinformation) of the game apparatus 10. The use channel information D4indicates a channel used when the game apparatus 10 communicates withanother game apparatus 10. The search information D5 is identificationinformation about a communication game (an example of applications)executed by the game apparatus 10. The priority information D6 indicatesthe priority for determining the order of transmission of a transmissionframe or the like to another game apparatus 10. The network informationD7 is information about a network that the game apparatus 10 formstogether with another game apparatus 10 (for example, information aboutthe total number of the game apparatuses 10 included in the samenetwork).

The proxy target management table D8 is used when the game apparatus 10transmits a proxy response signal in place of another game apparatus 10to a search communication apparatus, and is set for each searchcommunication apparatus. FIG. 6 shows a non-limiting example of theproxy target management table of the game apparatus B set for the gameapparatus X (search communication apparatus). As shown in FIG. 6, proxytargets (the other game apparatuses A, C, D, etc.), and the numbers oftimes of proxy response for the respective proxy targets are registeredin the proxy target management table. Based on the proxy targetmanagement table, the game apparatus B transmits search response signalsof other game apparatuses in place of the other game apparatusesrespective predetermined numbers of times.

Structure of Transmission Frame

Next, with reference to FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C, the structures ofthe transmission frames will be described. FIG. 7A shows a non-limitingexample of the structure of the search request frame D1 a, FIG. 7B showsa non-limiting example of the structure of the search response frame D1b, and FIG. 7C shows a non-limiting example of the structure of theproxy response frame D1 c.

The search request frame D1 a is transmitted as a search request signalby broadcast when the game apparatus 10 searches for another gameapparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 7A, the search request frame D1 aincludes a frame type, an address ID, and a transmission source ID. Theframe type indicates the type of the transmission frame. In this case,information indicating the search request frame D1 a is written in theframe type. In the address ID, identification information about anothergame apparatus 10 as a transmission destination is written. Since thesearch request frame D1 a is transmitted by broadcast, identificationinformation that allows all the game apparatuses 10 to receive the frameis written in the address ID. In the transmission source ID,identification information about the game apparatus 10 that transmitsthe search request frame D1 a is written based on the apparatusinformation D3 stored in the data storage area 13 b.

The search response frame D1 b is transmitted by the game apparatus 10that has received the search request frame D1 a, to the game apparatus10 that has transmitted the search request frame D1 a. As shown in FIG.7B, the search response frame D1 b includes a frame type, an address ID,a transmission source ID, and network information. In this case, in theframe type, information indicating a search response frame is written.In the address ID, identification information indicating the gameapparatus 10 that has transmitted the search request frame is written.In the transmission source ID, identification information indicating thegame apparatus 10 that transmits the search response frame D1 b iswritten. In the network information, information about a network thatthe game apparatus 10 forms together with another game apparatus 10 iswritten based on the network information D7 stored in the data storagearea 13 b. Owing to the above structure, the game apparatus 10 that hasreceived the search response frame D1 b can obtain information about anetwork that other game apparatuses 10 form, and based on theinformation, can select another game apparatus 10 to be connected. It isnoted that hereinafter, the transmission source ID and the networkinformation may be collectively referred to as apparatus-relatedinformation.

The proxy response frame D1 c is transmitted by the game apparatus 10that has monitored the search response frame D1 b, to another gameapparatus 10 that is the destination of the monitored search responseframe D1 b. As shown in FIG. 7C, the proxy response frame D1 c includesa frame type, an address ID, and proxy response information. In thiscase, in the frame type, information indicating a proxy response frameis written. In the address ID, identification information indicating thegame apparatus 10 to which the monitored search response frame D1 b isto be transmitted is written. In the proxy response information,apparatus-related information included in the monitored search responseframe D1 b, and apparatus-related information included in a searchresponse signal to be transmitted by the game apparatus 10 that performsproxy response, are written. Owing to the structure of the proxyresponse frame D1 c shown in FIG. 7C, the size of the transmission framecan be reduced.

Next, a process in which the game apparatus 10 monitors search responsesignals and proxy response signals transmitted from other gameapparatuses 10, and a process in which the game apparatus 10 transmits asearch response signal and a proxy response signal, will be described.

Flowcharts of Transmission/Reception Processes of Search Response Signaland Proxy Response Signal

With reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, transmission/reception processes ofa search response signal and a proxy response signal executed by theprocessor 11 of the game apparatus 10 will be described. Thetransmission/reception processes of a search response signal and a proxyresponse signal shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are executed by the processor11 of the game apparatus 10 executing the wireless communication programP1. Hereinafter, the process executed by the game apparatus 10 (searchsubject communication apparatus; each of the game apparatuses A to I)that has received a search request signal from the game apparatus X(search communication apparatus) as shown in FIG. 2 will be described asan example.

At first, each of the game apparatuses 10 has been powered on, and iswaiting to receive a signal in the communication enabled area of thegame apparatus 10 by using a use channel (2Ch) designated by theprocessor 11 thereof. Then, in step S11, the processor 11 of the gameapparatus 10 determines whether or not the game apparatus 10 hasreceived a transmission frame from another game apparatus 10. If theresult of the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S12. Ifthe result of the determination is NO, the process returns to step S11to repeat processing of step S11 until the game apparatus 10 receives atransmission frame from another game apparatus 10.

In step S12, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 determineswhether or not the received transmission frame is a search requestsignal. Specifically, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10determines whether or not the received transmission frame is the searchrequest frame D1 a, based on the frame type included in the receivedtransmission frame. If the result of the determination is YES, theprocess proceeds to step S13 to start a response process. If the resultof the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step S14.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the response process started in step S13will be described. It is noted that the process shown in FIG. 9 isstarted in step S13 and is executed in parallel with the process shownin FIG. 8.

In step S31, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 determineswhether or not it is time for the game apparatus 10 to transmit a searchresponse signal or a proxy response signal in accordance with thepriority. Specifically, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10determines whether or not it is time to transmit a search responsesignal or a proxy response signal, based on the priority information D6stored in the main memory 13. It is noted that in the priorityinformation D6, a reference priority (e.g., 5) is written as an initialvalue, and is updated in step S16 described later. In addition, if thepriority is equal to that of another game apparatus, the processor 11determines whether or not it is time to transmit a transmission frame,based on a waiting time which is randomly set in order to preventcollision of a plurality of transmission frames. If the result of thedetermination is YES, the process proceeds to step S32. If the result ofthe determination is NO, processing of step S31 is repeated (that is,the game apparatus 10 waits until the transmission timing correspondingto its priority comes).

In step S32, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 determineswhether or not a response prohibition flag (not shown) stored in themain memory 13 is ON. It is noted that the response prohibition flag(not shown) is a flag for prohibiting transmission of a response signal(search response signal and proxy response signal) when the flag is ON.If the result of the determination is YES, the response process endshere. If the result of the determination is NO, the process proceeds tostep S33.

In step S33, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 transmits asearch response signal or a proxy response signal to the game apparatusX, based on the proxy target management table D8 for the game apparatusX stored in the main memory 13. Specifically, the processor 11 of thegame apparatus 10 refers to the proxy target management table D8, and ifthere is an entry included in the proxy target management table D8(another game apparatus 10 that is a proxy target is included),transmits a proxy response signal to the game apparatus X. Morespecifically, based on the search response frame D1 b that the othergame apparatus 10 (proxy target) has transmitted to the game apparatusX, which has been monitored and stored in the reception frame bufferarea D2, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 generates the proxyresponse frame D1 c and transmits the generated proxy response frame D1c to the game apparatus X. On the other hand, referring to the proxytarget management table D8, if there is no entry included or if theremaining numbers of times of proxy response for all entries are 0, theprocessor 11 of the game apparatus 10 transmits a search response signalto the game apparatus X. More specifically, the processor 11 of the gameapparatus 10 transmits the search response frame D1 b stored in thetransmission frame buffer area D1 of the game apparatus 10, to the gameapparatus X. Then, the process proceeds to step S34.

In step S34, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 updates the proxytarget management table D8 for the game apparatus X stored in the mainmemory 13. Specifically, if the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10has transmitted a proxy response signal in step S33, the processor 11decreases the remaining number of times of proxy response for the othergame apparatus 10 that is a proxy target, for which the game apparatus10 has transmitted the search response signal of the other gameapparatus 10. If the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 has nottransmitted a proxy response signal, the processor 11 does not updatethe proxy target table D8. Then, the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S35, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 sets the priorityinformation D6 stored in the main memory 13, at a value corresponding tothe case where a response signal has been already transmitted.Specifically, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 sets thepriority information D6 at a value (e.g., 3) lower than a referencevalue (a reference priority, e.g., 5). It is noted that the value may bea fixed value, or the more recent the time when the search responsesignal or the proxy response signal was transmitted is, the lower thevalue may be.

With reference to FIG. 8, in step S14, the processor 11 of the gameapparatus 10 determines whether or not the received transmission frameis a search response signal. Specifically, the processor 11 of the gameapparatus 10 determines whether or not the received transmission frameis the search response frame D1 b, based on the frame type included inthe received transmission frame. If the result of the determination isYES, the process proceeds to step S15. If the result of thedetermination is NO, the process proceeds to step S17.

In step S15, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 updates the proxytarget management table D8 for the game apparatus X stored in the mainmemory 13. Specifically, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10compares the transmission source ID included in the received searchrequest frame D1 a with the IDs of the game apparatuses 10 as proxytargets included in the proxy target management table D8. As a result,if the transmission source ID is not included among the IDs of the gameapparatuses 10 that are proxy targets, the processor 11 newly registersthe game apparatus 10 corresponding to the transmission source, as aproxy target. Then, the process proceeds to step S16.

In step S16, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 sets the priorityinformation D6 stored in the main memory 13 at a value higher than thecurrent priority in accordance with the increase in the number of thegame apparatuses 10 as proxy targets included in the proxy targetmanagement table D8. Specifically, the more the number of the gameapparatuses 10 as proxy targets included in the proxy target managementtable D8 is, the higher the priority information D6 is set to be (forexample, the priority information D6 is set at 7 which is higher thanthe current priority, e.g., a reference value, 5). Therefore, forexample, the priority information D6 (e.g., 8) of a game apparatus 10having registered three game apparatuses as proxy targets is higher thanthe priority information D6 (e.g., 6) of another game apparatus 10having registered one game apparatus as a proxy target. Then, theprocess returns to step S11.

It is noted that in step S16, in the case where the current priority(e.g., 3) is lower than the reference value (5) (that is, the currentpriority is a value for the case where a response signal has beenalready transmitted), the priority information D6 is set to be higher(e.g., 3.5) than the current priority but to be lower than the referencevalue (5). As a result, the priority (e.g., 3.5) of a game apparatus 10that has transmitted a search response signal and has monitored anothersearch response signal is lower than the priority (no less than thereference value, 5) of another game apparatus 10 that has not yettransmitted a search response signal, but higher than the priority(e.g., 3) of still another game apparatus 10 that has transmitted asearch response signal and has not monitored another search responsesignal.

In step S17, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 determineswhether or not the received transmission frame is a proxy responsesignal. Specifically, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10determines whether or not the received transmission frame is the proxyresponse frame D1 c, based on the frame type included in the receivedtransmission frame. If the result of the determination is YES, theprocess proceeds to step S18. If the result of the determination is NO,the process returns to step S11.

In step S18, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 determineswhether or not a search response signal from the game apparatus 10 isincluded in the monitored proxy response signal. Specifically, theprocessor 11 of the game apparatus 10 determines whether or not theapparatus-related information about the game apparatus 10 is included inthe received proxy response frame D1 b. If the result of thedetermination is YES, the process proceeds to step S19. If the result ofthe determination is NO, the process returns to step S11.

In step S19, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 turns on theresponse prohibition flag (not shown) stored in the main memory 13.Then, the process returns to step S11.

It is noted that since the process shown in FIG. 8 and the process shownin FIG. 9 are executed in parallel as previously described, the gameapparatus 10 can monitor signals transmitted from other game apparatuses10 (execute step S11 in FIG. 8) until the transmission timing (step S31in FIG. 9 determines YES).

Besides the above-described transmission/reception processes of a searchresponse signal and a proxy response signal, (for example, as aninterrupt process), the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 execute aprocess of clearing (deleting) an entry in the proxy target managementtable D8 in accordance with a predetermined condition. For example, theprocessor 11 of the game apparatus 10 deletes a proxy target whoseremaining number of times of proxy response is 0 in the proxy targetmanagement table D8 (that is, a proxy target for which proxy responsehas been performed a predetermined number of times). In addition, forexample, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 deletes a proxytarget registered in the proxy target management table D8 if apredetermined period has elapsed since it was registered. In addition,for example, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 calculates, fromthe radio wave reception intensity or a variation therein, thepredetermined number of times of proxy response or the predeterminedperiod from when a proxy target is registered, which is used as areference for determining deletion of a proxy target. Specifically, theprocessor 11 of the game apparatus 10 calculates it such that thestronger the radio wave reception intensity is or the smaller thevariation in the radio wave reception intensity is, the more thepredetermined number of times is or the longer the predetermined periodis. It is noted that the priority information D6 is also updated inaccordance with clearance of an entry in the proxy target managementtable D8.

In addition, the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10 resets theresponse prohibition flag stored in the main memory 13 in accordancewith a predetermined rule. For example, data of the response prohibitionflag may be reset as the process shown in FIG. 9 is executed one time,or data of the response prohibition flag may be reset as the processshown in FIG. 9 is executed a predetermined number of times. Morespecifically, the predetermined number of times for resetting in thecase where the communication condition of the game apparatus 10frequently varies may be set to be smaller than in the case where thecommunication condition does not frequently vary.

In addition, the processor 11 of the game apparatus X receives a proxyresponse signal and a search response signal which have been transmittedas responses to a search request signal that the game apparatus X hastransmitted, and stores the received signals in the main memory 13.Thus, the game apparatus X recognizes other game apparatuses 10.

In accordance with the above-described monitoring/transmission processesof a search response signal and a proxy response signal, the gameapparatuses A to I in the communication system shown in FIG. 2 execute,for example, the following communication process.

For example, when the game apparatus A has received the first searchrequest signal from the game apparatus X (YES in step S12 in FIG. 8),the game apparatus A determines whether or not it is time to transmit asearch response signal, in accordance with the priority (in this case,the initial value of priority) (step S31 in FIG. 9). At this point oftime, since all the priorities of the game apparatuses A to I are thesame (for example, initial value of 5), the game apparatus A determineswhether or not it is time to transmit a search response signal, inaccordance with a randomly set waiting time. If the waiting time of thegame apparatus A is the shortest and the transmission timing for thegame apparatus A has come first (YES in step S31 in FIG. 9), since theresponse prohibition flag is not ON (NO in step S32 in FIG. 9), the gameapparatus A refers to the proxy target management table D8. Then, sincethere is no entry of proxy target here, the game apparatus A transmits asearch response signal (step S33 in FIG. 9), and sets the priority to belower (for example, 3) than the reference value (initial value of 5)(step S35).

On the other hand, it will be assumed that the game apparatus B has notnormally received the search request signal (NO in step S12 in FIG. 8).In this case, the game apparatus B monitors search response signalstransmitted from other game apparatuses 10 (for example, game apparatusA) (YES in step S14 in FIG. 8), and registers a proxy target (gameapparatus A) in the proxy target management table D8, based on themonitored search response signal (step S15 in FIG. 8). Then, since thegame apparatus B has monitored a search response signal, the gameapparatus B sets the priority to be higher (for example, 6) than thecurrent value (reference value) (step S16 in FIG. 8) in order to havepriority on the next transmission.

Then, for example, the game apparatus B monitors a search responsesignal transmitted from the game apparatus C (NO in step S12 and YES instep S14 in FIG. 8), and registers a proxy target (game apparatus C) inthe proxy target management table D8, based on the monitored searchresponse signal (step S15 in FIG. 8). Then, since the number of proxytargets increases, the game apparatus B sets the priority to be higher(for example, 7) than the current value (6) (step S16 in FIG. 8). Thus,the more search response signals the game apparatus 10 monitors, themore preferentially the game apparatus 10 can transmit a proxy responsesignal in the next transmission relative to other game apparatuses 10.In addition, the game apparatus X receives the proxy response signal,thereby recognizing the presences of a large number of search subjectcommunication apparatuses in a short period, resulting in increase inefficiency of searching.

On the other hand, after the game apparatus A has transmitted the searchresponse signal, the game apparatus A monitors a search response signaltransmitted from, for example, the game apparatus C (NO in step S12 andYES in step S14 in FIG. 8), and registers a proxy target (game apparatusC) in the proxy target management table D8, based on the monitoredsearch response signal (step S15 in FIG. 8). Then, the game apparatus Asets the priority to be higher (for example, 3.5) than the current value(3) (step S16 in FIG. 8). Therefore, in the next transmission by thegame apparatus A, since its priority is lower than the reference value(5), other game apparatuses that have not yet transmitted searchresponse signals (that have not yet been recognized) transmit inpreference to the game apparatus A. Thus, the efficiency of searching bya search communication apparatus (game apparatus X) is increased.

Next, the game apparatuses A and B receive the second search requestsignal from the game apparatus X (YES in step S12 in FIG. 8). Then, thegame apparatus B determines whether or not it is time to transmit asearch response signal, based on the priority (in this case, 7) (stepS31 in FIG. 9). Here, since the priority (7) of the game apparatus B ishigher than those of the other game apparatuses (for example, 3.5 of thegame apparatus A, or reference value of 5), the game apparatus B isprioritized so that the transmission timing of the game apparatus Bcomes first (YES in step S31 in FIG. 9). Then, since the responseprohibition flag is not ON (NO in step S32 in FIG. 9), the gameapparatus B refers to the proxy target management table D8, andtransmits, as a proxy response signal, a search response signal of thegame apparatus B and the search response signals of the game apparatusesA and C which are proxy targets, to the game apparatus X (step S33 inFIG. 9). Thus, even if the period (reception period) in which the gameapparatus X can receive a response to a search request signal is short,the game apparatus X can recognize the presences of the game apparatusesA, B, and C by receiving the proxy response signal from the gameapparatus B.

On the other hand, the game apparatus A determines whether or not it istime to transmit a search response signal, in accordance with thepriority (in this case, 3.5) (step S31 in FIG. 9). Since the priority is3.5, the transmission timing of the game apparatus A does not come soon(NO in step S31 in FIG. 9). Therefore, other game apparatuses 10 thathave not yet transmitted search response signals and whose prioritiesare equal to the reference value (5) (for example, another gameapparatus 10 that has newly appeared in the communication enabled areaof the game apparatus X) preferentially transmit search responsesignals. Therefore, the efficiency of searching by the game apparatus Xis increased.

On the other hand, it will be assumed that the game apparatus C hasmonitored the proxy response signal transmitted from the game apparatusB (NO in step S12, NO in step S14, and YES in step S17 in FIG. 8). Here,since the search response signal from the game apparatus C is includedin the proxy response signal from the game apparatus B (YES in step S18in FIG. 8), the response prohibition flag of the game apparatus C isturned on (step S19 in FIG. 8). Therefore, in the response process, thegame apparatus C does not transmit a search response signal (step S33 isnot executed because of YES in step S32 in FIG. 9). Thus, the gameapparatus X can avoid redundantly receiving the same search responsesignals, whereby the efficiency of searching by the game apparatus X isincreased. It is noted that the game apparatus C will next transmit asearch response signal after the response prohibition flag is reset inaccordance with a predetermined rule.

As described above, owing to the monitoring/transmission processes of asearch response signal and a proxy response signal shown in FIG. 8 andFIG. 9, the game apparatus X (search communication apparatus) canefficiently search for a large number of game apparatuses in a shortperiod by receiving a proxy response signal. In addition, the gameapparatuses A to I (search subject communication apparatuses) canefficiently transmit search response signals and proxy response signals,avoiding redundant transmission. Thus, the efficiency of searching by asearch communication apparatus is increased.

It is noted that the monitoring/transmission processes of a searchresponse signal and a proxy response signal described in the aboveembodiment may be modified in various manners. In the above embodiment,the game apparatus 10 does not transmit a search response signal and aproxy response signal when the response prohibition flag is ON. However,for example, the game apparatus 10 may transmit a proxy response signalif there is an entry as a proxy target registered in the proxy targetmanagement table D8.

In addition, in the above embodiment, in the proxy target managementtable D8, the remaining numbers of times of proxy response areregistered for the respective proxy targets. However, instead ofregistering the remaining numbers of time of proxy response, only proxytargets may be registered and the proxy targets may be all cleared whena predetermined period has elapsed.

In addition, in the transmission/reception process of the presentembodiment shown in FIG. 8, even if the game apparatus 10 does notreceive (or cannot normally receive) a search request signal from thegame apparatus X, the game apparatus 10 monitors signals transmittedfrom other game apparatuses 10, and determines whether or not totransmit the monitored signal as a proxy response signal (step S14etc.). However, the game apparatus 10 may not determine whether or notto transmit as a proxy response signal a monitored signal transmittedfrom another game apparatus 10, until the game apparatus 10 receives asearch request signal from a search communication apparatus (gameapparatus X).

In addition, in still another embodiment (modification), a process forsearching for other communication apparatuses executed by the searchcommunication apparatus (game apparatus X) may be composed of two stepshaving different purposes. That is, in the modification of the exemplaryembodiments, in the first step, a search communication apparatustransmits a search request signal to search subject communicationapparatuses (game apparatuses A to I) to allow them to establish proxyrelationships therebetween, and in the second step, transmits a searchrequest signal to receive proxy response signals from the search subjectcommunication apparatuses that have established the proxy relationships.Specifically, in the first step, search subject communicationapparatuses receive a search request signal transmitted from the gameapparatus X, and transmit search response signals as responses to thesearch request signal. Then, the search subject communicationapparatuses monitor the search response signals transmitted from eachother, to become able to transmit the each others' search responsesignals in place of each other (establish proxy relationships). Here, inthe first step, the search communication apparatus does not need toacquire the search result (does not need to receive search responsesignals) but only have to transmit a search request signal. Therefore,the time taken for the searching can be reduced. Next, in the secondstep, the search communication apparatus transmits a search requestsignal in order to receive search response signals (specifically, proxyresponse signals) from the search subject communication apparatuses.Here, the search subject communication apparatuses that have receivedthe search request signal have already established the proxyrelationships. Therefore, the search subject communication apparatusestransmit proxy response signals based on the priorities set inaccordance with the numbers of proxy targets. Therefore, the searchcommunication apparatus can recognize the presences of a plurality ofcommunication apparatuses by receiving the proxy response signals, thusreducing the time taken for the searching. In this way, by executing thefirst step and the second step of searching having different purposesdescribed above, the search communication apparatus can further reducethe time taken for the searching and increase the efficiency ofsearching.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the monitoring/transmissionprocesses of a search response signal and a proxy response signal areexecuted with respect to one search communication apparatus (gameapparatus X). However, in the case where a plurality of searchcommunication apparatuses transmit search request signals, the aboveprocesses are executed with respect to each of the search communicationapparatuses.

In addition, the priority (priority information D6) described in theabove embodiment may be set by any other method. For example, thepriority may be determined by a combination of conditions, i.e., theelapsed time from transmission of a search response signal and thenumber of proxy targets registered in the proxy target management tableD8. In addition, in the above embodiment, the priority information D6 isset based on information about whether or not transmission has beendone, and the number of proxy targets. However, the order oftransmission of signals may be determined based on first priorityinformation associated with the information about whether or nottransmission has been done, and second priority information associatedwith the information about the number of proxy targets. Specifically,the order of transmission of signals may be determined based on thefirst priority information, and only if pieces of the first priorityinformation are equal to each other between apparatuses, the secondpriority information may be used.

In addition, in the above embodiment, one channel (2Ch) is used as thesearch channel for the game apparatus X shown in FIG. 2, and the othergame apparatuses A to I that use 2Ch are searched for. However, in acommunication system including the game apparatuses 10, the channel usedby each game apparatus 10 is selected from a plurality of predeterminedchannels in accordance with the ambient communication condition of thegame apparatus 10. Therefore, the other game apparatuses 10 around thegame apparatus X do not necessarily use the same channel as in the gameapparatuses A to I, but may use different channels. In such a case, thegame apparatus X may use a plurality of search channels to search forother game apparatuses 10 around the game apparatus X, and may searchfor other game apparatuses 10 that use the respective channels differentfrom each other. Thus, even if a plurality of game apparatuses 10 thatuse different channels (for example, 2Ch and 3Ch) are present around thegame apparatus X, the game apparatus X transmits a search request signalby using each of the different channels. Therefore, each of the gameapparatuses 10 can receive the search request signal by using thecorresponding channel, and transmit the corresponding search responsesignal. In addition, each of the game apparatuses 10 can monitor asearch response signal transmitted from another game apparatus 10 thatuses the same channel as the game apparatus 10, and transmit a proxyrespond signal including the monitored signal. In this way, the gameapparatus X can efficiently search for other game apparatuses 10,present around the game apparatus X, that use various channels.

In addition, in the above embodiment, network information is written inthe search response frame D1 b, that is, a search response signalincludes information about a network formed by the game apparatus 10that transmits the search response signal. However, other than suchinformation, a search response signal may include any information. Forexample, a search response signal may include unique information such asthe number of times the game apparatus 10 has previously communicatedwith the game apparatus X, and the game apparatus X that has receivedthe information may determine to communicate with the game apparatus 10,based on the information. In addition, such information may be displayedon a display section (not shown) of the game apparatus 10, a user mayselect another game apparatus 10 based on the information, and the gameapparatus 10 may establish communication with the other game apparatusthat has been selected.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the transmission process of asearch request signal, and the transmission process of a search responsesignal are executed by the processor 11 of the game apparatus 10executing the wireless communication program P1. However, a circuitrealizing such functions may execute the transmission processes.

In addition, in the communication system of the above embodiment, thegame apparatuses 10 have the same configuration. However, a searchcommunication apparatus (the game apparatus X shown in FIG. 2) thattransmits a search request, and a search subject communication apparatus(the game apparatuses A to I shown in FIG. 2) that receives the searchrequest may not have the same configuration. Specifically, a searchcommunication apparatus may have at least a configuration to transmit asearch request signal, and a search subject communication apparatus mayhave at least a configuration to receive the search request signal, totransmit a search response signal which is a response to the searchrequest signal, and to monitor a signal around the search subjectcommunication apparatus. Such configurations are applicable to, forexample, a communication system in which a server as a searchcommunication apparatus transmits a search request signal to terminalcommunication apparatuses as search subject communication apparatuses,and based on the search result, the server distributes data to theterminal communication apparatuses. Thus, the communication system ofthe above embodiment is not limited to including only a plurality of thegame apparatuses 10, but may include the game apparatus 10 and anapparatus other than the game apparatus 10 (for example, a distributionserver, an information processing apparatus, or a radio wave relayapparatus).

In addition, in the communication system of the above embodiment, thesearch subject communication apparatuses (game apparatuses A to I shownin FIG. 2) have the same configuration. However, all the search subjectcommunication apparatuses do not necessarily have a configuration tomonitor search response signals transmitted from other search subjectcommunication apparatuses and to transmit a proxy response signal. Forexample, only a search subject communication apparatus whose priority oftransmission of a search response signal has been set at a low value inadvance may have the configuration to monitor search response signalstransmitted from other search subject communication apparatuses and totransmit a proxy response signal.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the transmission process of asearch request signal or the transmission process of a search responsesignal is executed by one game apparatus 10. However, a part or thewhole of each process may be executed by one or more other apparatuses(for example, a centralized control system) that can perform wired orwireless communication.

In addition, the configuration of the game apparatus 10 described in theabove embodiment is merely an example. The game apparatus 10 may have aconfiguration other than the above configuration. The setting valuesused in the game apparatus 10, values used in the determinations, theorder of steps of the processes executed by the game apparatus 10, andthe like are merely examples. Another order of steps or other values maybe used.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the wireless communication programto be executed by the game apparatus 10 is supplied to the gameapparatus 10 via a storage medium such as the storage device 12.However, the wireless communication program may be supplied to the gameapparatus 10 via a communication line. It is noted that instead of anonvolatile storage memory, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a similar optical discstorage medium, a flexible disc, a hard disc, an optical magnetic disc,a magnetic tape, or the like may be used as an information storagemedium for storing the wireless communication program. In addition, avolatile memory for temporarily storing the wireless communicationprogram may be used as an information storage medium for storing thewireless communication program.

While the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail, theforegoing description is in all aspects illustrative and notrestrictive. It will be understood that numerous other modifications andvariations can be devised.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication system including: a searchcommunication apparatus which searches for another communicationapparatus; and a plurality of search subject communication apparatuseswhich are searched for by the search communication apparatus, the searchcommunication apparatus comprising a search request transmission sectionconfigured to transmit a search request signal, the search subjectcommunication apparatuses each comprising: a search request receptionsection configured to receive the search request signal transmitted fromthe search communication apparatus; a search response transmissionsection configured to transmit a search response signal which is aresponse to the search request signal received by the search requestreception section, to the search communication apparatus; and a searchresponse monitoring section configured to monitor the search responsesignal transmitted from another search subject communication apparatusto the search communication apparatus, the search communicationapparatus further comprising a search response reception sectionconfigured to receive the search response signal transmitted from thesearch subject communication apparatus, the search response transmissionsection transmitting, as a proxy response signal, to the searchcommunication apparatus, the search response signal monitored by thesearch response monitoring section, which has been transmitted from theother search subject communication apparatus, and the search responsereception section receiving the proxy response signal in addition to thesearch response signal.
 2. The communication system according to claim1, wherein the proxy response signal is one signal obtained byintegrating the search response signal transmitted from the searchsubject communication apparatus to the search communication apparatus,and the search response signal monitored by the search responsemonitoring section, which has been transmitted from the other searchsubject communication apparatus.
 3. The communication system accordingto claim 1, wherein the search response monitoring section monitors theproxy response signal transmitted from another search subjectcommunication apparatus, and when the search response signal transmittedfrom the search subject communication apparatus is included in the proxyresponse signal monitored by the search response monitoring section ofthe search subject communication apparatus, the search responsetransmission section of the search subject communication apparatus doesnot transmit the search response signal.
 4. The communication systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the search subject communicationapparatuses each further comprises a priority setting section configuredto set a priority of transmission of the search response signal, if thesearch subject communication apparatus has transmitted the searchresponse signal to the search communication apparatus at least one time,the priority setting section sets the priority to be lower than if thesearch subject communication apparatus has not transmitted the searchresponse signal, and the search response transmission sections of thesearch subject communication apparatuses transmit the search responsesignals in the order corresponding to the priorities that have been set.5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the searchsubject communication apparatuses each further comprises a prioritysetting section configured to set a priority of transmission of thesearch response signal, the more the number of other search subjectcommunication apparatuses that have transmitted the search responsesignals monitored by the search response monitoring section and includedin the proxy response signal is, the higher the priority setting sectionsets the priority to be, and the search response transmission sectionsof the search subject communication apparatuses transmit the searchresponse signals in the order corresponding to the priorities that havebeen set.
 6. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein thesearch subject communication apparatuses each further comprises: a proxyregistration section configured to register, in a storage section of thesearch subject communication apparatus, information about the othersearch subject communication apparatus that has transmitted the searchresponse signal monitored by the search response monitoring section; anda proxy deletion section configured to delete the information about theother search subject communication apparatus which has been registeredby the proxy registration section, from the storage section, and thesearch response transmission section transmits the proxy responsesignal, based on the information about the other search subjectcommunication apparatus registered in the storage section.
 7. Thecommunication system according to claim 6, wherein when a predeterminedtime has elapsed since the proxy registration section registered theinformation about the other search subject communication apparatus inthe storage section, the proxy deletion section deletes the informationabout the other search subject communication apparatus from the storagesection.
 8. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein whenthe search response transmission section has transmitted, apredetermined number of times, as the proxy response signal, the searchresponse signal monitored by the search response monitoring section, theproxy deletion section deletes the information about the other searchsubject communication apparatus that has transmitted the search responsesignal, from the storage section.
 9. The communication system accordingto claim 1, wherein when the search request reception section hasreceived the search request signal, the search response monitoringsection starts to monitor the search response signal transmitted fromthe other search subject communication apparatus.
 10. A communicationapparatus comprising: a search request reception section configured toreceive a search request signal transmitted from a first communicationapparatus; a search response transmission section configured totransmit, to the first communication apparatus, a search response signalwhich is a response to the search request signal received by the searchrequest reception section; and a search response monitoring sectionconfigured to monitor the search response signal transmitted from asecond communication apparatus to the first communication apparatus, thesearch response transmission section transmitting, as a proxy responsesignal, to the first communication apparatus, the search response signalmonitored by the search response monitoring section, which has beentransmitted from the second communication apparatus.
 11. Acomputer-readable storage medium having stored therein a communicationprogram which is executed by a computer of a communication systemincluding: a search communication apparatus which searches for anothercommunication apparatus; and a plurality of search subject communicationapparatuses which are searched for by the search communicationapparatus, the communication program causing a computer of the searchcommunication apparatus to function as a search request transmissionsection configured to transmit a search request signal, thecommunication program causing a computer of each of the search subjectcommunication apparatuses to function as: a search request receptionsection configured to receive the search request signal transmitted fromthe search communication apparatus; a search response transmissionsection configured to transmit a search response signal which is aresponse to the search request signal received by the search requestreception section, to the search communication apparatus; and a searchresponse monitoring section configured to monitor the search responsesignal transmitted from another search subject communication apparatusto the search communication apparatus, the communication program furthercausing the computer of the search communication apparatus to functionas a search response reception section configured to receive the searchresponse signal transmitted from the search subject communicationapparatus, the search response transmission section transmitting, as aproxy response signal, to the search communication apparatus, the searchresponse signal monitored by the search response monitoring section,which has been transmitted from the other search subject communicationapparatus, and the search response reception section receiving the proxyresponse signal in addition to the search response signal.
 12. Acommunication method performed in a communication system including: asearch communication apparatus which searches for another communicationapparatus; and a plurality of search subject communication apparatuseswhich are searched for by the search communication apparatus, thecommunication method comprising: causing the search communicationapparatus to transmit a search request signal; causing each of thesearch subject communication apparatuses to receive the search requestsignal transmitted from the search communication apparatus; causing eachof the search subject communication apparatuses to transmit a searchresponse signal which is a response to the search request signalreceived in the search request signal reception step, to the searchcommunication apparatus; causing each of the search subjectcommunication apparatuses to monitor the search response signaltransmitted from another search subject communication apparatus to thesearch communication apparatus; and causing the search communicationapparatus to receive the search response signal transmitted from thesearch subject communication apparatus, the search response signaltransmission step further including causing each of the search subjectcommunication apparatuses to transmit, as a proxy response signal, tothe search communication apparatus, the search response signal monitoredin the search response signal monitoring step, which has beentransmitted from the other search subject communication apparatus, andthe search response signal reception step further including causing thesearch communication apparatus to receive the proxy response signal inaddition to the search response signal.